Everything you must Do if You Only Have 24 Hours in Charleston
A Dog Friendly Guide!
If you find yourself (and you pup) with only 24 hours to explore Charleston, South Carolina - don't worry, there's plenty you can do to get a taste of this charming city! From exploring historic landmarks, to enjoying delicious southern cuisine, here's everything you need to make the most of your time in Charleston!
pineapple fountain at the waterfront park
Start your day bright and early at the Pineapple Fountain at Sunrise! The waterfront park is the perfect spot to kickstart an amazing day watching the sun come up over the bay! And if you’re bringing your pup it’s the perfect place for a walk in the morning! Once you’ve taken in the view…
Lets get some breakfast and stroll around the city!
Breakfast recommendations:
Callies Hot Little Biscuit (Try the grits or southern biscuits!)
The Daily (Amazing breakfast sandwiches and food sourced locally)
Browns Court Bakery (Bread people this is for you! Try some artisanal bread)
Or if you just like a cup of coffee (like me!)
Black Tap Coffee
Starbucks (guilty for always getting a frappuccino to start my day!)
city stroll past rainbow row
Start your morning stroll in the city through Rainbow Row, a collection of colorful historic houses along East Bay Street that are painted in pastel bright colors and have gorgeous flower boxes with blooming flowers, a sure way to brighten the mood! The cobblestone roads make you feel like you are stepping back in time! Continue your walk along the battery, a promenade along the waterfront lined with palms where you can enjoy the views of Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney and other historic sites!
Make your way over to the Charleston City Market
The Charleston City Market is one of the oldest and most historic markets in the country. Here, you can find handmade crafts, souvenirs, and local foods to take home as a memory of your time in Charleston. (Dogs are allowed at the outdoor portion of the market!)
Paulie and I ALWAYS come home with an ornament from every place we visit and we found ours here!!
time to grab some lunch!
Before you head out of the busy part of the city, grab lunch at the heart of all the noise and enjoy some people watching and great food! Try:
Husk - located in the historic downtown district try some southern classics with a modern twist at this local spot! The menu here changes daily based on the freshest local ingredients! (think Gabriel's restaurant in Emily in Paris vibes!)
Lewis Barbeque - DELICIOUS southern BBQ!
Pearlz Oyster Bar, an iconic spot downtown - you MUST try the She Crab Soup!!!
Get out of the bustling city and enjoy a quiet afternoon at a Plantation Tour!
We enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens and would recommend this to everyone! Best part: Dogs are allowed and Koda LOVED walking around here! Next time we go back to Charleston we would love to check out another plantation like Boone Hall or Cypress Gardens where The Notebook was filmed!
Finally, there is no better way to end a day than watching the sunset.
Make this EVEN better and watch it at the beach! Isle of Palms (another dog friendly spot!) is the most romantic spot in Charleston to make your 24 hours in Charleston the best it can be! There’s free parking along the public entrances and if you wanted to skip the plantation tour and come spend a few hours in the sunshine at the beach this is also the place to do it! There are options to eat along the street and a boardwalk with shops here too! Next time we will definitely spend more time in this area!
Dinner Time!!!
Before heading out of Charleston make sure you hit a restaurant with some delicious local food for dinner!
Try:
Pearlz (yes I already told you this one but seriously this should be high on your list or first choice!)
The Ordinary- A restaurant in a restored bank!? HOW COOL IS THIS! Southern food of course!
Fig - Whats better than Farm to Table? In our opinion you just can't beat a menu with fresh ingredients!
After our fun filled 24 hours we hope we’ve convinced you that if you only have 24 hours in Charleston, there's no need to worry, as this beautiful seaside city has so much to offer in a short amount of time!
